October 2018 BurdaStyle Magazine

It’s here! It’s here! Well, ok, maybe not here as in here in my hands, but it is here as in it exists in the world. If you haven’t seen any of the previews on social media, hold on to your hats because the October 2018 issue of BurdaStyle Magazine is fantastic. After so many dull pattern releases the past few months, this truly feels like the fall sewing inspiration we’ve all been waiting for. It is easily the best of the fall Burda issues (August-October) this year, definitely in contention for best issue of the year, and may possibly find itself in my short list of best Burda issues of all time (which technically is a list I haven’t yet compiled, but really should do sometime). Suffice to say, I’m excited. Alright, alright, enough with the blabbering already, let’s just dive in:

By this point I think we all know I’m a sucker for a good coat pattern, but I don’t think anyone can disagree that the coats and jackets are the best part of this month’s releases:

This duffle coat is awesome. It’s loose enough to fit over bulky fall clothes, but fitted enough as not to be totally shapeless. The detachable fur collar is quite stylish, and it’s got perfectly spaced in-seam pockets. Oh, and if that’s not enough:

See the zipper hidden under the button loops? That’s right – it zips and it has buttons, which is definitely a feature I wish my coat had had when I visited New York last year. Truly, I cannot deal with weather. Anyway back to the coat – the wrist tabs are designed to match the button loops – so cute!

I might love the shorter version of the coat even more. The high collar combined with a hood is not a feature I’ve seen, well, anywhere, and, again, being someone who has no idea how to deal with any sort of cold, I need it. I love how this style skirts the line between classy and casual, and I really, really want to add this to my fall/winter sewing plans.

OMG you guys, I can’t with the amazing coats! I love this! The length proportions are perfect, and I love how you get a notched collar look without having an actual notched collar. It can be more open when you want that traditional tailored look, but it closes up to be quite pragmatic against the elements. Gorgeous.

To be fair, I do prefer this as a longer coat, BUT I do still like this style as a short jacket. It’s just better with the added length, in my opinion.

Ok, I know this classic blazer could be considered “boring” because it is so classic, but I actually really like this because it is the perfect classic blazer. It’s got just enough seams for a tailored fit, the perfectly sized narrow notched collar, a great length that is flattering to a lot of body types, sleeve vents, and pocket details. This is absolutely the perfect professional style blazer I’ve been looking for (to judge in) but haven’t been able to find in RTW. And now I don’t have to. I just have to drastically improve my tailoring skills to make this to the level of RTW.

I don’t know if this hoodie would be considered as a jacket or a top, but if I made it, it would definitely be as outerwear, so I decided to include it here. Yet again, this raglan hoodie could be considered “boring” but I really like it. I always find raglan sleeves to be both comfortable to wear and easy to sew, and with a hood I think this could be a super cute casual top. The belt is an interesting feature, but easy to leave off. I also like the split hem – it’s a small detail, but it keeps this from feeling too much like a giant box.

This month’s collection of dresses also provide some great options for fall:

I like this dress. The button placement isn’t unique (Burda has utilized this asymmetric button placement in the past), but it is a fun detail. I also like the sleeve options – it is nice to have something that capitalizes on the big sleeve trend, but also an option that is simpler in detail and a bit more timeless.

I feel like I wouldn’t have given this dress much of a look except for the amazing fabric utilization in the plaid design. It is definitely eye-catching, and demonstrated how well this pattern could be applied to a border print.

I really like the neck detail on this dress; it is a feature Burda also utilized on a few of their Fall/Winter envelope pattern releases. This dress looks super simple to sew, and with the belt I could see myself enjoying this style. Fabric choice is going to be key here – the dress itself has a very straight line, so stretch, weight, and drape are likely going to be key to getting a wearable garment with this style.

I’m also a fan of this sheath dress. The soft pleats give just a hint of visual interest without being too over the top or sloppy. It’s not severe, but it is serious.

The tops this month aren’t too shabby either:

This top is fascinating. It looks like a woven blouse with a cross over neck piece? What’s even more interesting – it has gussets! I really like how this looks on the model, so it’ll be worth checking out. I’m curious what type of fabric Burda used for the look here.

I think I prefer this pattern as the dress, but I’d honestly be far more likely to wear it as a top (just because I wear more separates).

Based on the line drawings, I would have found the fabric flap to be odd, but based on the model photos, I sort of like the way it looks. I don’t think this is at the top of my to-sew list, but I do like this pattern more than I was expecting based off of my first impressions.

I like this blouse. It’s got sleeve interest, but it isn’t over the top crazy town. The detail is subtle, pretty, and romantic, and the rest of the blouse is simple, easy, and unassuming. This would be a great use of all the slippery fabrics you have in the stash.

This wrap blouse my be my favorite top pattern this month – it’s got the classic white shirt vibe while completely eschewing the details that make something a classic white shirt. It feels like the sort of piece that could go with a lot of things in a wardrobe, and I really love the neckline and silhouette.

I like this crazy colored blocked top more than I thought I would. It’s basic, but it looks comfortable and like it would have beautiful drape and movement.

The bottoms in this issue aren’t terribly exciting, but they would be nice in a supporting role in the wardrobe:

Not much to say about these pants. If you don’t like waistbands or pockets or fly fronts, it’s an option? Also, yay, skates!

These trousers are much more my style. I love the look Burda shows in the model photo, but personally I suspect I’d do better if I lengthened them past the ankle. These also have a side zip, so if the fly front scares you away from attempting trousers, these could be a good option. Plus, they have belt loops and pockets, so it is a total win.

This is a pretty simple pleated skirt, but I really like it. It’s a great way to use a printed fabric, and it looks like it has a surprising amount of flow in the right fabric.

I don’t think I’ll ever want to wear a skirt that uses buttons up the front as a closure (skater thighs are problematic for that sort of a thing), but I do like the casual vibe of the striped waistband, pockets, and shaped hem. I think this skirt is cute though – great for a casual fall look.

The Burda Plus section, sadly, is not full of lots of fantastic coats, but it does have some great tops this month:

So cute! I love the casual vibe and asymmetric hem. Also, if you were eyeing that McCall’s dress pattern, it seems Burda has got you covered.

I really like the line drawing of this top, but it looks a bit stiff on the model. The lighting is a bit problematic as well – when I first saw it I thought we were getting a maternity spread this month. Which could be cool because Burda hasn’t done one of those in a while, but wasn’t the intent of the pattern here. Perhaps in a different fabrication it would have less of that effect, or even if we saw the garment moving in real life. I do like the pattern, I just wish the model photo of the garment was better (the model looks great, it’s just the shirt that’s having issues).

Conversely, I was a bit meh on the garment photo and line drawing, but the model photo is really selling me on this top! It looks so casual and classy – I love it!

I really like it as a dress too – the wrap style with princess seams does help this dress fit in a very flattering way.

I really like this skirt! I feel like it would be so tempting to show this in an olive green or khaki, but I really enjoy Burda showcasing this style in this bright color. To be honest, I love the color story in this month’s Burda Plus (very similar to the segment they ran in the January issue in the smaller sizing), but I especially like it with this skirt. The side button details are fantastic here, as is all the yummy topstitching.

This jacket isn’t bad, but compared to all the other coats this month, it is sort of boring. I think Burda has styled it well – it looks classy in a vaguely 60s mod-ish way – but compared to the rest of the looks it is kind of forgettable.

We get a men’s pattern this month! And it is smoking hot:

Seriously, that coat is sexy right? Look at the additional seaming and waist shaping going on. So classic. It’s fantastic.

Also, as a bonus, for those of you who enjoy knitting:

I think the scarf looks really great – it’s got a very pleasing texture, and the beret and sweater are also quite practical for the fall time. I’m usually not a fan of Burda’s extra crafty patterns, but these styles are actually really cute.

The kids section is very whatever-don’t-care this month:

I probably would have more to say if I knew more about kids sizing and how that corresponds to ages and what sort of struggles people would have to go through to put kids in said clothing at those ages, but I don’t, so I can’t really comment. I will say the colors are definitely pulling on the fall vibes, but the actual patterns are fairly unremarkable. Perhaps people who have more of an opinion on the kids clothing could weigh in in the comments.

And with that it means we are at the end of the review and it’s time to choose the top and bottom patterns for the month. The Best of BS was really tough to pick this month, though I’m sure we all know I was debating between the coat patterns. In the end Best of BS for October 2018 goes to:

It was such a tough choice, but I went with this coat because I think it really does a nice job of skirting the line between being casual and more classic, the high collar with a hood is a really unique feature in, and, when combined with the other duffle coat pattern, there are so many options for the details you could include! I think this jacket would look great and be super functional, so it gets the tops spot for the month.

The BWTF award was also difficult, because there really wasn’t anything terrible this month, but I have given it to:

The Burda Plus jacket. It’s really not bad, but literally everyone else in this issue got a much cooler coat option. It’s really only depressing by contrast, but that’s enough to end up in the bottom spot this month. Truthfully, the only huge disappointment is the entire kids section, but I don’t really consider that as BWTF fodder because I don’t really care that much about the kids patterns.

And there we have it! It’s so good, right? I am really excited for this issue. Yes, yes, I’m primarily excited for the coats and jackets, but I could actually see myself making and wearing nearly all of the styles in this issue, either as they are or with slight modifications. There are plenty of nods to the current trends (side ruching and sleeve details), but also lots of really classic silhouettes that will make the patterns wearable/useable/stylish for quite some time to come. I love when I get an issue that I’ll want to sew from for the foreseeable future. I’m also really excited to see a kick-ass men’s coat, and the knitting patterns almost make me want to take up knitting. Almost. What do you all think? Is this the collection of fall patterns we’ve all been waiting for? Or are these too-safe styles that are a total pass? What are your top and bottom picks for the month? Feel free to discuss in the comments!

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42 thoughts on “October 2018 BurdaStyle Magazine”

I LOVE that shirt dress in the green, like a really feminine military styling. And the knotted button loops on the duffel are fantastic too. I haven’t bought a copy of Burda mag in years but I’m very tempted by this one!

Wow. This has to be one of the best Burda issues I have ever seen. Unlike you, I don’t usually get excited about coat patterns, but these are freaking awesome. And why don’t I get excited about coats, living in Canada, I wear them a great deal of the time, and why do you love them, being a California girl? And of course, my local source for Burda magazine no longer sells them 8-((. Oh well, there are always downloads.

Burda is 1970’s stale. Zero excitement. The original German company was always on trend and very chic. Their patterns had a superb fit, especially for taller women. We started sewing with them before seam allowances were added. Glad I kept a few.

Now all I’m seeing from Burda is old-fashioned baggy, boho and blah. Hipster stuff. The only patterns with any style now come from Marfy in Italy.

Winner winner chicken dinner! I want it now!
Thanks as always for providing your reviews DT – I only buy 2 or 3 issues a year, and it saves me a couple of 9 mile trips a month to find the mag, only stocked in one store and they never know what day it will arrive

As soon as I saw the preview, I knew you would love this issue as it’s pretty much jackets and coats galore! 😂
That being said, I do enjoy most of the patterns as well. I must try that jacket one of these days! The ,,master piece” next to it is quite daunting though.

Honestly, if you find a good book on tailoring or a good online course, you can usually skip the Burda instructions and it’s much easier. I mean, you should look over Burda’s construction order and make sure there isn’t anything weird, but coats aren’t too bad, just time consuming.

Ooooo…. so much awesome… The very first coat is one that is waaaay out of my skill level, but boy do I want to make it. And, as you said, a zipper with the nifty buttons! Living in Quebec, zippers are a no-brainer. The short version of the coat, with the hood, is on my “must sew now” list for sure too. Love it! Oh, and the detachable fur collar… There is a really, really nice jacket from 2017 (I think) done either in leather or other fabric with a detachable fur collar, and I’ve been wanting sooooo badly to sew that one. Tons of details. It’s boxy though (not that I mind). This one has a bit of shape to it – I might try sewing the jacket version, and if it goes well, try the coat. Welp, fall sewing planned. 🙂

The blazer is also terribly nice, and I feel it could get a cool feel with just an inch or two added, the right fabric choice (I’ve no idea what), top stitching, some kind of super secret metal thingies for the buttons, and voila – a spy heroine jacket! :-p (sigh…. one day I’l sewing one….)

The hoodie and block sweater are just my thing for working. Done. The tops with the extra fabric flap are really nice! There are a lot of those in H & M and the like. The button up skirt? I love it and I want it. There is one in my wardrobe (jean) and it’s worn to pieces.

AWESOME issue – lots of amazing patterns! It’s great there are some say-what? patterns, makes me think a bit.

This issue rivals some of the a-m-a-z-i-n-g issues I’ve gotten my hands on lately from the early 2000’s. This is definitely a keeper. Thanks for the fabulous review and enthusiasm! ♥

not to hijack your review which, as always is fantastic, but are there any Canadian readers who know how/where to get ahold of a Burda magazine now that their Canadian distributor (GCN) has shut its doors and is not even honouring existing subscriptions?

I believe Ingrid had to order from the UK, and if I properly recall, GLP News (US distributor) has international shipping, so I’d try those spots first. I recommend EBay as a secondary market, but with all of Canada having lost the subscription service I except competition will be rough on there this month. But leave a comment for Ingrid or get in touch with her – she had the same issues.

dagmar7408 I’m in the same boat as yourself 😢😠 and not very happy about it. Thanks to Twitter, someone gave an alternative link (I’ve found NONE in Canada, even Fabricland emailed back saying they didn’t carry it anymore, but that they were looking for alternative solutions) in Britain. Worth looking at – in the end it should cost me nearly $20 less than through GCN:

Thanks Ingrid KV Hardy. I will compare getting the subscription form the UK against getting it from the US to see which is the best deal. I’m still fuming that Canadian subscribers have just been thrown under the bus in this manner and if Burda didn’t fit me as well as it does I’d love to just forget about them…!

It’s funny because if the Big4 weren’t available at the cheap pattern sales in the US I wouldn’t have nearly so many of them, but for Burda I would scour the internets and pay international shipping because I love their patterns that much.

It really sucks that everyone lost the subscription after renewals. One thing I will say about GLP is that they’ve been very good about extending my regular subscription when my other subscriptions (Burda Classic and Burda Easy English) get discontinued.

Sox, so jealous! 😄 We used to have a local magazine store (for over 20 years) that had all kinds of magazines, BurdaStyle included). It was great. The store closed about 2 years ago, or so, and boy do I miss it. There is no where else nearby to get Burda.

Hello Doctor T and thank you for your excellent reviews! I am a Burda girl from Finland and a long time reader of yours. After reading your reviews I can always start planning my future projects though the actual magazine arrives here almost a month after it’s release… With your help I can wait:)

Since Burda Style has sacked its chief editor Dagmar Bily and moved its design department to some place in Asia the deterioration of the magazine is palpable.
Burda used to be very stylish but chic as well and always on trend. Now it´s all cheap street style patterns, baggy saggy stuff and really old fashioned practical and ugly clothes patterns. Repetitive coat and blazer patterns are the norm now and especially annoying is the same old same old only ever so slightly modified pleat-front-trousers-pattern. Seems like they only have one trouser pattern. Nothing exciting, nothing chic, just plain boring and old fashioned exactly like simplicity patterns.

This issue is – like so many issues recently – a poorly made one. Endless tiny variations on patterns we´ve already seen many times. No thank you. One of the worst issues I´ve seen in a while.
I prefer stylish and chic and will rather buy vogue or marfy patterns than what Burda Style offers currently.

I thought it was just me that was finding the designs generic and repetitive. While I think this is the best issue in a long time (and I do love it when they throw in the odd knitting pattern) there is still the V neck top, boxy sweatshirt top, sheath dress with origami details, wrap top (yawn) and as you say the ubiquitous pleated trousers.

I don’t get these comments.. Marfy (as far as I have seen) are dresses, gowns and some sort of cover for the dress or gown. With few exceptions. Of course a magazine with 12 numbers a year and often 30 different garments (with variation of the same pattern) show repetition. It is part of the appeal for me at least, to see variations of different styles and fabric choices. And it is nice to have something else then pretty dresses, I tend to miss when they do something else then lounge/sport collections issue 1 or 12. Because I do sports and enjoy to sew a pyjamas. And often wearable versions of the trends from catwalks, currently I miss the exaggerated waist from Balenciaga and Dior regarding the blazers (give me some benefits for my hips now please) but I can live with the Carolina Herrera inspired tied neck details in this issue.

And last years August and September issues.. Good stuff. Love them both.

To be fair, Marfy does have a full range of patterns, but they are individually sized, without instructions, and cost as much as 2 Burda magazines, at least from what I have seen. I’d consider Marfy for a wedding gown or some other very special event dress, and they do have a few gorgeous coat patterns, but I just can’t justify the cost to myself.

I’ve never wanted to make a coat before and now I want to make two. The hood on the duffle coat is cute and functional -a rare combination. I’ll be stalking my local bookstore until I can get a copy in my hot little hands!

The woven top with the wrap neck looks like it was made with a Liberty print (the Liberty department store is showing a velvet with the same print in a different colorway Juno Hoxton Velvet (SKU: 5057409899587)). it looks like a great issue. Thank you for the preview!

Although it will be a repeat of what others have said, I think it is a keeper. There were issues with nothing in them for me and I still bought and kept them. There are quite a few really good patterns. Except plus section: I spotted really pour fitting. Or at least what appears to be one. That red maxi dress seems to have a potential to look quite sophisticated due to neck feature, slightly trumpety sleeves and a back seam which cotributes to overall shape. Unarguably jackets are very good. Enjoyed your review as always. Happy sewing!

My favorite is that dress with the full skirt and darted top- plain or border print. I love it!!! The coats are all lively but I have vowed to never bother with making them myself… As for the kids patterns, I am drawn to those interesting sweat pants and things, I think my little one would look very cute and be comfy in them!

Yay bust darts, and the pleated skirt and the too-stitched skirt, and all the coats. I might buy the magazine as well as dowloads of the ones I will make. I can’t trace from those multiple puzzle sheets.

This is a 5* issue for me, I’d use all the Plus size patterns other than the Empire Line/Looks like Maternity top and the skirt that might not be flattering in Plus size. The Kids PJ/sweatpant type bottoms are great, the Onesie less so after a certain age most kids wriggle too much! Agree the August issue was great, loved the Boys’ patterns that will get lots of use.

More Boys/Toddler Boys patterns please, Burda! The Girls have had it good for too long.

*A tip for tracing multiple size patterns is to trace round your size with a colourful marker pen first, which shows through tracing paper easily. Then pin the tracing paper to the Burda sheet so it doesn’t slip and it’s a breeze.

I really enjoy your reviews on the Burda Magazine. It really has enabled me to be more selective on which months I buy. Saved me some money for sure. Lol I tend to agree with many of your picks too. So… here is the problem I have today… up here in Canada I can’t seem to get my precious Burda magazines anymore. Any suggestion on how I can get a hold of the September issue? I particularly love some of those dresses. Or perhaps you have a line on a subscription? Help me! Lol!

Mine’s arrived! I agree, it’s a great issue. Those coats, including the mens’ pqttern, are worth the price alone and then there’s the wrap blouse and the vintage pattern too. I’m almost tempted by the knitting patterns too, but I’m still knitting the jumper I started in January so that might not be for a year or two.

The kids clothes are not worth the aggravation; in the UK at least RTW childrens’ clothes are excellent value. I second the comment that most of them seem to be for girls; I went through my stash looking for patterns in my son’s size recently and there wasn’t a lot for boy toddlers.

Anyway, great issue and I’m now seriously considering replacing my winter coat with the long asymmetric one!